avoid going off the fiscal cliff on a new congress. >>> the fiscal cliff debate is impacting people here in the bay area who's lives could dramatically change as soon as tomorrow. tom vacar is live at a highway work site in oakland and has the story of one woman and her looming fear. tom-- >> reporter: the people who work here are well paid and they're onvacaon. but for other people, the fiscal cliff might as well be a financial guillotine. though ilea thomas searches, she's been out of work for two years picking up any odd jobs as much as she can. >> it's been discouraging. i come in here three times a week and maybe i'll go to a friend's house and use their internet to look for work. >> reporter: long term unemployment benefits have been a life send. >> i can breathe a little while i'm looking for work. even though it's not the same amount that i was getting when i was working. >> but thomas is one of 400, 400,000 californians who will not be able to get medicare payments tomorrow. >> not being able to buy groceries, not being able to put food on the table, what am i supposed to do. a